Customizable toy figure with articulating joints and kit

ABSTRACT

A customizable toy figure with articulating ball-and-socket joints. Also disclosed is a kit for customizing the toy figure with action accessories, such as weapons.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to articulated toy figures and more specifically relates to customizable toy figures with detachable ball-and-socket articulations which give the figures a particularly realistic look and feel. The present invention also relates to a kit comprising a line of accessories to be used with the figures.

2. Description of Related Art

Customizable dolls and action figures are highly desirable, but because they must be custom made, requiring skilled labor and expensive equipment, they take a long time to produce and can be expensive.

The prior art has put forth several inventions related to customizable toys and articulated toy figures. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,166 to Lee et al. describes a toy figure with articulating joints.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,359 to Crump describes a memorial novelty doll device having integral sound producing means and kit and method for customizing the same.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,019,654 to Alivandi describes a system and method for producing custom merchandize from a virtual environment.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,504,925 to Lauer describes a doll or action figure with facial features customized to a particular individual.

U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2002/0127944 to Spector describes a construction kit of custom toys or other personalized products.

U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2014/0319734 to Voit et al. describes the manufacturing of softening polymers.

The foregoing prior art does not describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. An anatomical human figure comprising,

-   -   a. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket neck joint,     -   b. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right shoulder         joint,     -   c. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left shoulder         joint,     -   d. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket thorax joint,     -   e. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right elbow joint     -   f. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left elbow joint,     -   g. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right wrist joint,     -   h. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left wrist joint,     -   i. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right hip joint,     -   j. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left hip joint,     -   k. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right knee joint     -   l. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left knee joint,     -   m. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right ankle joint,         and     -   n. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left ankle joint.

A kit comprising

-   -   (1) An anatomical human figure with a ball-and-socket joint, and     -   (2) At least one accessory.

The aforementioned kit wherein the accessory is a weapon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the male action figure from the anterior view.

FIG. 2 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the male action figure from the posterior view.

FIG. 3 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the male action figure as viewed from the right side.

FIG. 4 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the male action figure as viewed from the left side.

FIG. 5 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the female action figure from the anterior view.

FIG. 6 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the female action figure from the posterior view.

FIG. 7 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the female action figure as viewed from the right side.

FIG. 8 depicts the generalized complete anatomical design of the female action figure as viewed from the left side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention, briefly described, provides a toy figure with articulating joints and a kit comprising interchangeable parts and accessories.

The present invention has many advantages over the prior art. This includes, but is not limited to: 1) improved convenience and ease of use; 2) customizable action figure; 3) improved customer satisfaction; and, 4) improved efficiency with the production of action figures and dolls.

In particular, one advantage of this invention over the prior art is the full customizability of the action figure by the customer. The customer can not only choose the gender of the action figure, but also the race and attributes, including a wide range of super-powers, skills, weapons, and the like.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, which depict a male action figure design. It should be understood that the various numbers employed in the various figures refer to the same ball-and-socket joint, but viewed from the different perspectives provided in each figure.

FIGS. 1-4 depict spheres and partial spheres at the ball-and-socket joints for the male action figure. These include the neck (1), right shoulder (2), left shoulder (3), thorax (4), right elbow (5), left elbow (6), right wrist (7), left wrist (8), right hip (9), left hip (10), right knee (11), left knee (12), right ankle (13), and left ankle (14).

Reference is also made to FIGS. 5-8 of the drawings, which depict a female action figure design. It should be understood that the various numbers employed in the various figures refer to the same ball-and-socket joint, but viewed from the different perspectives provided in each figure.

FIGS. 5-8 depict spheres and partial spheres at the ball-and-socket joints for the female action figure. These include the neck (15), right shoulder (16), left shoulder (17), right elbow (18), left elbow (19), thorax (20), right wrist (21), left wrist (22), right hip (23), left hip (24), right knee (25), left knee (26), right ankle (27), and left ankle (28).

This invention can be made with many materials known in the art of toy manufacture. These include the use of natural materials such as metal, wood, paper, and the like. It also includes synthetic materials such as plastics, polystyrene, putty, silicone polymers, and the like. Each of these materials can be molded by the methods known in the art, such as injection or cast molding, to create a life-like action figure with the characteristics of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the doll is created using an epoxy casting resin material. Such materials are commercially available under such trade names as Epoxycast™, Easycast™, Procreate Putty™, and Smooth-On™ silicon and resin.

In a preferred embodiment, the doll is approximately 14 inches tall from its feet to the head.

In a preferred embodiment, the doll's eyes are stylized in the fashion of ‘Japanime’ cartoons.

In a preferred embodiment, the casted doll is painted in a manner that resembles natural skin and toned muscles. In a preferred embodiment, the casted doll is pained in a manner to give the appearance of clothing.

The materials and methods for painting a doll are known in the art.

In one embodiment, a release agent is applied prior to casted molding. Such release agents include commercially available products such as Ease Release™ 200, which is followed by URE-FIL™ 7. Afterwards, a baby powder or talc is applied and the excess is removed prior to molding. After the molding, an auto body primer is applied, followed by an acrylic paint, and then an acrylic sealer.

In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a kit of accessories for the action figure. These accessories will have a broad spectrum in terms of shape, size, and color.

Such accessories includes “super-hero” outfits spanning from vintage to present day outfits, “super-power accessories (i.e., wings or rocket boost), civilian clothing (i.e., shirts, dresses, undergarments, and the like), professional-type clothing (i.e., fire fighter, law enforcement, military, and the like), jewelry (i.e., necklaces, watches, tiaras, and the like), shoes and shoe accessories (including roller blades and skates), hair dress accessories, wigs and hair for both male and female action figures, character accessories (i.e., backpacks, purses, hats, sunglasses, scarves, and the like), pets (i.e., domestic pets, extant and extinct wildlife, prehistoric, and futuristic animals), methods of transportation (i.e., cars, scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, sport-like vehicles, military-style vehicles, and wheelchairs), and weapons (guns, nunchuku, sais, bow-and-arrows, military-type weapons, futuristic weapons, robotic accessories, anime-inspired weapons, and light-up attachments and weapons).

Further, this list is not intended to be limiting. Rather, it is envisioned that future action doll models and accessories will be created, including villains and headquarters.

In yet another embodiment, the limbs of the doll are detachable and replaceable with limbs and parts from the accessory kit. Such parts can include, but it is not limited to, robotic limbs, animal limbs, limbs from other dolls sold from the same manufacturing line.

In another embodiment, the action figures have electronically-powered lights in their eyes, hands, and the like.

In another embodiment, the action figures have spring-activated wind-up limbs and torsos. In another embodiment, the action figures are controlled through a remote control or downloadable app.

In another embodiment, the action figures are made of photosensitive materials that glow in the dark.

In another embodiment, the action figures have the capacity for speech or are voice activated.

In another embodiment, the action figures have different color and transparency.

In another embodiment, the action figures have scene props and accessories.

In a preferred embodiment, the “Super Power Accessories” will connect to the action figures with ‘snap-on’ connections that attached to the action figure.

In one embodiment, the doll's hair is molded with the head.

In another embodiment, the doll's hair is a detachable wig and interchangeable with other wigs as part of the doll accessory kit. In this embodiment, the hair is made from materials and methods common in the construction of toys. These materials include natural materials such as human hair, horsehair, animal fur, and the like. It also includes, but is not limited to, synthetic materials such as polyvinylidene chloride, microacylic fibers, and the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the male, the hair is molded with the head.

In a preferred embodiment of the female design, the hair is detachable.

In a preferred embodiment, the customer will individualize the action figure based on his or her particular specifications and desired attributes of the action figure.

The customer may select from a wide variety of attributes for the action figure.

For example, the customer may add an electrified hand which signifies power over electricity.

The customer may decide among the two genders, but also a wide variety of races. These include an African-American male, the Asian-American male, and a series of other male races. It also includes the Hispanic female, African-American female, and the Asian-American female. These examples should be considered illustrative and non-limiting as a whole, as other facial designs could be selected.

In another embodiment of the invention, the customer would be provided with a computer-generated story that incorporates their customized action figure. In a preferred embodiment, this computer-generated story would be a comic book. 

1. An epoxy casting resin material anatomical human figure comprising, a. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket neck joint, b. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right shoulder joint, c. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left shoulder joint, d. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket thorax joint, e. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right elbow joint f. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left elbow joint, g. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right wrist joint, h. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left wrist joint, i. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right hip joint, j. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left hip joint, k. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right knee joint l. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left knee joint, m. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket right ankle joint, and n. an articulating spherical ball-and-socket left ankle joint.
 2. A kit comprising a. An epoxy casting resin material anatomical human figure with a ball-and-socket joint, and b. At least one accessory.
 3. The kit of claim 2 wherein the accessory is a weapon. 